Lawsuit Filed After Cushing Earthquake

A group of Cushing-area citizens have filed a class action lawsuit against at least five energy companies following a November 6 earthquake that measured 5.0 magnitude. 

David and Myra Reid, Valerie Branyan and Timothy Harris filed the suit on behalf of themselves and other "similarly situated' Oklahoma citizens. 

Their lawsuit states that White Star Petroleum, LLC, Crown Energy Company, Petrowarrior LLC, FHA Investments LLC, Cher Oil Company, LTD and 25 other Oklahoma oil and gas companies that have engaged in injection well operations around Cushing, caused the large-magnitude earthquake by injecting wastewater deep into the earth. 

The plaintiffs are asking for damages for physical harm to property, market value loss to their property, emotional distress and punitive damages. 

The 5.0 quake hit downtown Cushing around 7:45 p.m. the night of November 6. The state Department of Emergency Management said about 25 to 30 homes in the downtown area were damaged.